Exceptional White River Mesohippus Horse Skull and Leg Bone Fossils

Mesohippus sp.

Class Mammalia, Order Perissodactyla, Family Equidae

Geological Time: Oligocene (approximately 32 million years ago)

Size: The skull is 220 mm long by 110 mm high and 90mm wide. (8.5 x 4.5 x 3.25”) on a 260 mm x 330 mm plate (10 x 13”). The long (leg?) bone is 210 mm (8.5”)

Fossil Site: Upper Brule Formation, White River Badlands, Chadron, Nebraska area

Fossil Code: PFV129

Price: Sold


MesohippusDescription: This is a plate containing the skull and a leg bone of the early horse Mesohippus. The horse belongs to Order Perissodactyls, meaning Mesohippus "odd-toed Mesohippus Horse Fossilsungulates", that all share hoofed feet and an odd number of toes on each foot, as well as mobile upper lips and a similar tooth structure. They share a common ancestry with tapirs and rhinoceros. Mesohippus was one of the more widespread mammals in Ologocene North America. It walked on three toes on each of its front and hind feet (the first and fifth toes remained, but were small and not used in walking). Its long and slim limbs suggest that Mesohippus was an agile creature. It stood about 55 cm tall. The genus went extinct by the middle Oligocene. This very rare and aesthetic specimen has about 10% professional restoration. The frontal incisors and maxilla both upper and lower have been restored. These reconstructions are generally considered within the acceptable limits for a fossil skull of this size and complexity. The upper left side of the skull is exposed on the backside of the plate.

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